Surprise! Trump Nominee Outed As MLK-Hating Nazi Sympathizer In Leaked Chats
On Thursday, the Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for Paul Ingrassia, the right-wing podcaster nominated by former President Donald Trump to lead the Office of Special Counsel. This previously independent agency is tasked with, among other things, protecting federal employees from discrimination and issuing advice on the Hatch Act.
This will be Ingrassia’s second attempted confirmation hearing. The first was postponed due to concerns over the fact that he only passed the bar a year ago and had a history of associating with professional neo-Nazis and misogynists. Notably, he was even pictured with Andrew Tate, whom he claimed to have represented before becoming a lawyer.
Unsurprisingly, Ingrassia is now the latest Republican to have his extremely racist comments leaked to Politico by two fellow Republicans who felt his Nazi rhetoric crossed a line, even for them. Let’s take a closer look at some of his most egregious remarks.
One chat participant stated, “Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth with Ubergruppenführer Steve Bannon.” Ingrassia replied, “I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it.” This comment was made in reference to a campaign staffer responsible for minority outreach in Georgia, whom Ingrassia felt “didn’t show enough deference to the Founding Fathers being white.”
It is unclear what it means to “show deference” to the Founding Fathers simply for being white—something widely understood, given they were the only people with rights at the time. Yet, Ingrassia himself showed little reverence beyond their race, suggesting that they were wrong to assert that all men are created equal. “The founding fathers were wrong that all men are created equal,” he wrote at one point. “We need competent white men in positions of leadership… We need to reject that part of our heritage.”
In a chat post featuring several paintings of the Founding Fathers, Ingrassia declared, “We should celebrate white men and Western civilization and I will never back down from that.”
To be frank, Ingrassia comes across as a mean-spirited, ignorant individual. He reportedly resembles a haunted Victorian doll, with “clown eyebrows.” What merits him any sense of superiority besides being white is unclear.
In the same chat, Ingrassia used an especially despicable and bizarrely outdated Italian-American slur for Black people: “No moulignon holidays. From Kwanzaa to MLK Jr. Day to Black History Month to Juneteenth. Every single one needs to be eviscerated.” The term “moulignon” derives from “melanzana,” the Italian word for eggplant, and is rarely heard outside of shows like *The Sopranos* or Spike Lee films.
His bigotry did not stop there. When discussing former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, he stated: “Never trust a chinaman or Indian. NEVER.”
In a conversation claiming Democrats have made Black people into victims—though some might argue this was the doing of racist white people like Ingrassia—he wrote, “Blacks behave that way because that’s their natural state. You can’t change them,” adding, “Proof: all of Africa is a shithole, and will always be that way.”
It is astounding that some might see such conversations and conclude that Black people and Democrats are merely imagining all racism and victimization to make Republicans feel guilty.
At another point, Ingrassia stated, “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.” This unfortunate sentiment aligns with policies in the Trump administration, where observance of MLK Day and other cultural holidays faced rollbacks.
Earlier this year, the Defense Intelligence Agency announced a “pause” on observances of Pride Month, Black History Month, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Holocaust Days of Remembrance, Juneteenth, and other cultural events—likely to avoid upsetting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Edward Andrew Paltzik, Ingrassia’s lawyer, who previously represented Donald Trump in a $10 billion lawsuit against the New York Times and Penguin Random House, told Politico that Ingrassia’s comments were taken out of context and meant to satirize the Left’s characterization of the Right as Nazis.
“Looks like these texts could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted. However, arguendo, even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals outlandishly and routinely call MAGA supporters ‘Nazis,’” Paltzik wrote.
Later, Paltzik suggested the texts might have been digitally altered by AI, noting the challenges of authenticating leaked messages in the current technology landscape. “What is certain, though, is that there are individuals who cloak themselves in anonymity while executing their underhanded personal agendas to harm Mr. Ingrassia at all costs. We do not concede the authenticity of any of these purported messages.”
The problem with this defense is that the messages are consistent with Ingrassia’s views expressed throughout his short legal career. He previously wrote that “exceptional white men are not only the builders of Western civilization, but are the ones most capable of appreciating the fruits of our heritage.”
He has also tweeted that the descendants of slaves should pay reparations to descendants of slave owners; that Ukraine flags should be replaced with Confederate flags—which he claimed were “not hate speech,” asserting that dissenters “know zilch” about American history; that it was “[t]ime for [Donald Trump] to declare martial law and secure his re-election!” in 2020; that disliking Trump is a “dogwhistle” for “anti-white racism”; and that “Israel/Palestine” is a “psyop” akin to COVID, vaccines, Ukraine, and Black Lives Matter.
Ingrassia is also known for his association with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and, as noted before, Andrew Tate.
Given all this, it is puzzling why he would deny the authenticity of the chats when their content aligns so closely with his public statements.
### Senate Reaction
So far, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Senator Rick Scott of Florida have said they will not support Ingrassia’s nomination. Thune has stated, “He’s not going to pass,” adding that the White House should withdraw the nomination.
Other Republicans have been more cautious. Homeland Security Committee Chair Rand Paul of Kentucky and Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa have not outright opposed the nomination but admit that Ingrassia faces an uphill battle. Ernst commented, “We’re going to have to hear from him, but I’m sorry, he’s got an uphill battle.”
Paul has encouraged the White House to “count the votes,” hinting at uncertainty.
Ingrassia has also lost support from Senators Ron Johnson and James Lankford. Scott said, “I’m not supporting him. I can’t imagine how anybody can be antisemitic in this country. It’s wrong.” Lankford added, “I have tons of questions for him,” and expressed doubt about supporting the nomination.
Scott, Lankford, Johnson, Paul, and Ernst all sit on the Homeland Security Committee, which must vote on Ingrassia’s nomination. With only a few Republican members on that committee, the math does not favor Ingrassia’s confirmation.
### Looking Ahead
Given the reluctance of Republican officials to denounce the racist remarks made by younger Republicans in secret chats, many may respond to these revelations by claiming that the messages could be fabricated or taken out of context. Some might dismiss Ingrassia as merely a 30-year-old lawyer—“a wee babe in the woods”—unexpectedly nominated by Trump, and suggest there’s no way to hold him accountable for these statements.
Regardless, it appears unlikely that Ingrassia will secure the confirmation needed to lead the Office of Special Counsel.
It is almost certain that Donald Trump will find some role for Ingrassia that does not require Senate confirmation.
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*Source: Politico*
https://www.wonkette.com/p/surprise-trump-nominee-outed-as-mlk
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